Assessing the safety of influenza vaccination in specific populations: children and the elderly

Abstract

Comprehensive monitoring of the safety of influenza vaccines remains a public health priority, particularly as immunization coverage increases across different age groups at the global level. In this review, the authors provide state-of-the-art knowledge on the safety of influenza immunization among children and the elderly. The authors review the safety information in each group separately for inactivated and live attenuated influenza vaccines. Adverse events of special concern including febrile seizure, narcolepsy, asthma and Guillain–Barré syndrome are covered under specific considerations. The authors discuss the current status of the field, particularly the use of new technologies for influenza vaccines and their potential safety profile.

Keywords::

• aged
• child
• influenza
• safety
• vaccines

Financial & competing interests disclosure

A Rowhani-Rahbar receives contract funding from the CDC. NP Klein receives contract funding from the CDC and research support from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi-Pasteur, Pfizer Inc., Novartis and MedImmune. R Baxter receives contract funding from the CDC and research grants from Sanofi Pasteur, MedImmune, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer Inc., Protein Sciences, and Merck & Co., Inc. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.